Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Tuesday, March 8
Coral Gables, Fla.
11:00 a.m.
Middle Tennessee
5
at
2
No. 74 Miami (FL) (ESPN3)
Blue Raiders complete comeback over Canes
3/8/2016 5:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MT starts off Florida road trip with win
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Middle Tennessee picked up their second road win of the season and third victory over a ranked opponent with a 5-2 win over Miami (FL) on Tuesday afternoon.
"This team showed they can handle adversity today and they showed me another level of toughness," MT head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "I am proud of them all."
The No. 74 ranked Hurricanes jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the match by taking the doubles point and winning at No. 1 singles. Miami took wins at No. 2 and 3 doubles, while Ayed Zatar Cordero and Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore were unable to finish their match on court one with a score of 5-4.
MT took the remaining five singles matches to take the victory, but it wasn't easy.
Zatar and Miguel Negre Fernandez were the only two Blue Raiders to finish their match in straight sets. At the No. 3 spot in the lineup, Zatar took the win by a score of 6-1, 7-5. Negre was next to finish with a score of 6-4, 6-3 to tie the match up at 2-2.
The last three matches to finish each took three sets, but the Blue Raiders came out on top in every third set to win the match.
Luis Morillo Diaz won a close second set after dropping his first set. He took the third set win decisively, making his score 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 at No. 5. Gian Issa clinched the match for the Blue Raiders with a win at No. 6 in a third set tiebreak, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.
Last to finish in singles action was Morell at No. 2, as he took the victory in a third set tiebreak, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6.
"The wind, heat and hostile crowd could have all been reasons to lose this match," Borendame said. "However, we came together as a team and won all the close matches in singles.
"This is a great first win outdoors. This team is a family and it shows when they pick each other up. We are happy but not satisfied yet," Borendame added.
After moving up to No. 54 in the latest ITA rankings on Tuesday, the 11-3 Blue Raiders will now turn their focus to Conference USA foe Florida Atlantic for a match on Friday.
Middle Tennessee vs Miami
Mar 08, 2016 at Coral Gables, Fla.
(Neil Schiff Tennis Center)
#54 Middle Tennessee 5, #74 Miami 2
Singles competition
1. #28 Piotr Lomacki (UM) def. Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) 6-1, 6-2
2. Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. Max Andrews (UM) 1-6, 6-1, 7-6
3. Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) def. Jesse Flores (UM) 6-1, 7-5
4. Miguel Negre (MT) def. Fermin Calvo (UM) 6-4, 6-3
5. Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) def. Nile Clark (UM) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. Gian Issa (MT) def. Niclas Genovese (UM) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6
Doubles competition
1. Max Andrews/Bernard Tefel (UM) vs. Ayed Zatar Cordero/Gonzalo Morell (MT) 4-5, unfinished
2. Piotr Lomacki/Nile Clark (UM) def. Miguel Negre/Gian Issa (MT) 6-3
3. Jesse Flores/Kevin Bondar (UM) def. Luis Morillo Diaz/Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) 6-3
Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 11-3; National ranking #54
Miami 6-5; National ranking #74
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,3,4,5,6,2)
Watch replay on ESPN3
"This team showed they can handle adversity today and they showed me another level of toughness," MT head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "I am proud of them all."
The No. 74 ranked Hurricanes jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the match by taking the doubles point and winning at No. 1 singles. Miami took wins at No. 2 and 3 doubles, while Ayed Zatar Cordero and Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore were unable to finish their match on court one with a score of 5-4.
MT took the remaining five singles matches to take the victory, but it wasn't easy.
Zatar and Miguel Negre Fernandez were the only two Blue Raiders to finish their match in straight sets. At the No. 3 spot in the lineup, Zatar took the win by a score of 6-1, 7-5. Negre was next to finish with a score of 6-4, 6-3 to tie the match up at 2-2.
The last three matches to finish each took three sets, but the Blue Raiders came out on top in every third set to win the match.
Luis Morillo Diaz won a close second set after dropping his first set. He took the third set win decisively, making his score 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 at No. 5. Gian Issa clinched the match for the Blue Raiders with a win at No. 6 in a third set tiebreak, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.
Last to finish in singles action was Morell at No. 2, as he took the victory in a third set tiebreak, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6.
"The wind, heat and hostile crowd could have all been reasons to lose this match," Borendame said. "However, we came together as a team and won all the close matches in singles.
"This is a great first win outdoors. This team is a family and it shows when they pick each other up. We are happy but not satisfied yet," Borendame added.
After moving up to No. 54 in the latest ITA rankings on Tuesday, the 11-3 Blue Raiders will now turn their focus to Conference USA foe Florida Atlantic for a match on Friday.
Middle Tennessee vs Miami
Mar 08, 2016 at Coral Gables, Fla.
(Neil Schiff Tennis Center)
#54 Middle Tennessee 5, #74 Miami 2
Singles competition
1. #28 Piotr Lomacki (UM) def. Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) 6-1, 6-2
2. Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. Max Andrews (UM) 1-6, 6-1, 7-6
3. Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) def. Jesse Flores (UM) 6-1, 7-5
4. Miguel Negre (MT) def. Fermin Calvo (UM) 6-4, 6-3
5. Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) def. Nile Clark (UM) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. Gian Issa (MT) def. Niclas Genovese (UM) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6
Doubles competition
1. Max Andrews/Bernard Tefel (UM) vs. Ayed Zatar Cordero/Gonzalo Morell (MT) 4-5, unfinished
2. Piotr Lomacki/Nile Clark (UM) def. Miguel Negre/Gian Issa (MT) 6-3
3. Jesse Flores/Kevin Bondar (UM) def. Luis Morillo Diaz/Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) 6-3
Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 11-3; National ranking #54
Miami 6-5; National ranking #74
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,3,4,5,6,2)
Watch replay on ESPN3
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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